My stepdad has 70+ acres of beautiful forest and lake shore. It's where I'm currently staying, in the cabin by the lake. It's a really nice place to live even if I have to be super careful about bugs and mice.
The perimeter of the land is also clearly marked by yellow signs, about every ten feet (give or take available trees). These signs say (paraphrased) "PRIVATE PROPERTY. Trespassing for any reason is prohibited. Violators will be prosecuted." This is very clear that if you do not have permission or the deed, you should not be here.
So what happens when I'm coming up the driveway, but there is an older woman and four children walking down it. They move to the side to let me pass, and as I get next to them, I stop and roll down the window. And, rather confused, I ask, "What are you doing?"
Because, you know, I don't know them.
The lady answers, "We're walking. We're heading to Sea Hag Soaps."
My response is, then, "You...know this is private property right?"
"Yes. But we're just walking."
I let them go, because what do you say to that? Suddenly I'd become the bitch who is yelling at the grandmother and four kids telling them how that isn't the point.
The worst part of it, to me, was she knew. She didn't stumble blindly into the woods with her kids and come upon the driveway. She knew this wasn't her land, that trespassing for any reason was prohibited, but she did it anyway. And she didn't feel bad, or guilty, or like perhaps she owed me an apology. She was entitled to use my land because she was just walking.
Let's ignore that I found broken bottles not far from the cabin. Let's ignore that it makes me nervous to know strangers walk around the woods. Let's even ignore that they technically broke the law. What bothers me the most is that this woman knew it wasn't her property, had seen the signs, and chose to ignore them, showing her grandchildren or whatever by example that it's okay to use other people's property without their permission. And when they object to it? Well, you were just walking.
/fume
My Pantry, The Bitch
52 minutes ago
2 comments:
Well not to poke at you while you're already fuming....but technically you helped her negative example when you refused to confront her about it. Now her kids not only think they can use "we're just walking" as an excuse, but that it works.
On another note, I'd have pulled the hillbilly routine and threatened to "git mai shotty!" But that's because I'm crazy. Or so the doctors keep telling me.
KEKEKEKEKE!
P.S. Why can I not follow this blog?!
I'm not sure why you can't follow it. The RSS thing up at the right (it looks like a coffee cup) should work.
Also I know I reinforced her behavior, but I was just so taken aback by her behavior. And there wasn't much I could do; they'd have been gone before I called authorities. I talked to my stepdad later. I'm not good with confrontation but I'm working on it.
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